Multiple South Carolinians arrested on tax evasion charges

Columbia, SC (January 11, 2013) — Investigators with the South Carolina Department of Revenue have arrested 18 individuals this week in an ongoing investigation targeting those who claim to be exempt from taxation with their employers and fail to file required state income tax returns.

Those arrested in the investigation filed W4 forms with their employers claiming to be exempt from taxation which caused little to no taxes to be withheld from their paychecks. Those same employees failed to file tax returns for multiple years.

This statewide investigation resulted in charges of tax evasion against 18 individuals from the low country, midlands and upstate. The 18 individuals collectively earned over $6 million during the period of investigation and have a collective state tax liability of nearly $285,000.

The individuals arrested are as follows:

· Meioki Figueroa, Columbia; five (5) counts; $27,898 of tax evaded
· Cedora Vinson, West Columbia; five (5) counts; $21,282 of tax evaded
· Hugh Coleman, Columbia; seven (7) counts; $20,255 of tax evaded
· Lakeesha Murray, Columbia; five (5) counts; $18,891 of tax evaded
· Denise Tyler, Columbia; four (4) counts; $17,684 of tax evaded
· William Edwards, Columbia; five (5) counts; $16,674 of tax evaded
· Lisa Jenkins, Columbia; seven (7) counts: $14,999 of tax evaded
· Cassandra Johnson, Columbia; eight (8) counts; $13,635 of tax evaded
· Keith Mangle, Piedmont; seven (7) counts; $13,349 of tax evaded
· Juanita Brown, Columbia; five (5) counts; $13,346 of tax evaded
· Alphonso Blassingame, Boiling Springs, six (6) counts; $12,718 of tax evaded
· Thomas Smith, Columbia; five (5) counts; $12,674 of tax evaded
· Victoria Cooper-Hilliard, Goose Creek; six (6) counts; $12,419 of tax evaded
· Devita Gray, Piedmont; five (5) counts; $12,085 of tax evaded
· Rebecca Mulinix, Columbia; seven (7) counts; $11,768 of tax evaded
· Gregory Neff, Summerville; three (3) counts; $11,371 of tax evaded
· Denise Murry, Greer; five (5) counts; $10,452 of tax evaded
· Billy Tolbert, Greenville; seven (7) counts; $10,084 of tax evaded

Each charge of tax evasion carries a possible sentence of up to five (5) years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. These cases will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.

Assisting in the arrests include the Richland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Task Force, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Fugitive Task Force, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department. Further arrests are expected as this investigation is ongoing.